‘Outsourcing jobs a grave injustice to unemployed youth
Srinagar, July 2: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the National Conference (NC)-led government, accusing it of failing to deliver on key promises made during the 2024 Assembly elections and terming its proposed sit-in at Jantar Mantar for statehood restoration a “political gimmick.
Addressing a workers’ convention at Kunzer in Tangmarg, Bukhari said the ruling party had “misled people” and failed to fulfil commitments including one lakh jobs, free electricity, LPG cylinders, regularisation of daily wagers, and enhancement of ration quota.
“Statehood is not something that can be achieved through protests in Delhi. This is only an attempt to divert attention from governance failures,” he said, adding that public frustration was growing due to unfulfilled promises.
He urged party workers to gear up for upcoming Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies elections, saying people now recognise the gap between “empty promises and genuine service.”
Bukhari also called for permitting local communities to continue traditional manual mining activities under regulated permits, and reiterated his demand for dialogue between the Centre and the people of Jammu and Kashmir to bridge the trust deficit. He also sought release of detainees and compensation for farmers affected by recent hailstorms and rains.
Senior vice president Ghulam Hassan Mir accused the ruling party of centralising power and weakening democratic institutions, saying even elected representatives were being denied freedom to serve the public. He demanded immediate conduct of Panchayat and ULB elections.
Provincial president Mohammad Ashraf Mir criticised outsourcing of government jobs and alleged that the existing reservation policy had created widespread resentment, saying the government had failed to address key youth concerns.
The convention also saw several political and social activists joining the Apni Party.